Effects of carbohydrate mouth rinse on psychophysiological responses, kinematic variables and technical actions...

This study investigated the effects of carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHO_MR) on various psychophysiological, kinematic, and technical actions during 4-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSGs).

In a randomized, crossover, double-blind design, 16 young male soccer players (age: 15 ± 1 years; height: 172.6 ± 7.0 cm; body mass: 57.8 ± 7.9 kg) participated in two 4-a-side SSGs separated by one week following either CHO_MR or placebo (PLA). During each SSGs, heart rate (HR_mean, %HR, and HR_max), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment, visual analogue scale (VAS) to perceived mental fatigue, mood states, total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), average metabolic power (AMP), high metabolic load distance (HMLD), sprint distance (SD), acceleration (ACC), deceleration (DEC), and technical actions (e.g. passing, tackling, shooting, and interceptions) were assessed.

Compared with PLA, CHO_MR resulted in significantly higher RPE (p = 0.025, g = 0.86) and significantly lower VAS scores (p = 0.010, g = -0.71). In addition, the CHO_MR condition showed significantly higher values for interceptions, successful tackles, unsuccessful tackles, unsuccessful shots, and goals (p < 0.05, g = 0.96-2.02), whereas block values were significantly higher in the PLA condition. There were no statistically significant differences in HR_mean, %HR, HR_max, enjoyment, TD, HSRD, AMP, HMLD, SD, ACC, DEC, successful passes, unsuccessful passes, successful shots, or mood states between the conditions (p > 0.05).

The current study findings suggest that CHO_MR may enhance selected technical actions and lower VAS scores during 4-a-side SSGs, although it was also associated with higher RPE and did not alter the kinematic responses. In conclusion, CHO_MR was associated with higher RPE, lower mental fatigue, and selective improvements in technical actions, with no significant effects on kinematic variables or HR.